What If Jesus Was Serious? by Skye Jethani

This is an in depth look at the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew 5:1 – 7:29. There is often a disconnect between Jesus’ teaching in this passage and how Christians live. The author has broken down the text into 72 sections which makes it ideal to study one section per day. Each section features an engaging illustration along with posing the thought to be considered. For example the first section is entitled, “If Jesus was serious…then we will focus more on his good news and less on religious to-do’s.” This could also be used in a small group study. Each section provides much food for thought and discussion. I highly recommend this look at the Sermon on the Mount and the challenging applications it presents.

I received this book from Moody Publishers in exchange for this honest review.    

Journey in Prayer by Daniel Smed

Prayer is how Christians communicate with their Heavenly Father. Many times, it is difficult to know how to pray. Jesus’ followers also asked how they should pray. The author takes you through the journey of prayer, that Jesus taught his disciples in what is commonly known as the Lord’s Prayer. The journey is divided into seven days. Each day includes the sentence or phrase of the prayer that is expounded upon. The reader is then asked to share their thoughts in the section entitled “Prayerful Pondering.” Also included is a section that gives you prompts to pray and a section to guide you through your own personal prayers. This helpful book shows you the importance of prayer along with the necessary tools to pray on your own. This is a great way to enrich your prayer life by not only reading the book but applying its principles.

I received this book from Moody Publishers in exchange for this honest review.

Becoming Sage by Michelle Van Loon

This is one of the best books I have read on dealing with midlife issues for Christians. The transition to the midlife stage is a process and as the author notes it is an invitation to become “sage – a way of life in which a person expresses experience, knowledge, insight and self-mastery.”  While it may look different for each person it is also a journey growing in wisdom through lifelong discipleship.

The first section of the book deals with what it means to become sage while the second section of the book addressed how one can develop spiritual maturity in the second half of life. Areas addressed in the second section include physical health, relationships, financial issues, church community as well as end of life issues. At the end of each chapter there are questions for both individual reflection and group conversation. This would be a great resource for individual as well as a small group study. I appreciated   this book as I am in the second half of life myself and found it as a helpful tool to look at some of the issues I am facing.

I received this book from Moody Publishers in exchange for this honest review.   

Shepherding Women in Pain Bev Hislop, Editor

This is a valuable resource for any woman involved in ministry to other women. The first section is to help the reader understand the women in pain and what the woman in pain wants to know. Questions addressed include how can I stop the pain; when will life be normal again; what does healing look like; and where is God in pain. The second section addresses helping or shepherding the women in pain and what the shepherd needs to know.  Topics included in the section are depression, infertility, terminal illness, aging, addictions, domestic abuse along with many others. The last section of the book addresses communities in which healing can take place.

This book is a collaboration of many women who share their knowledge in helping women deal with specific areas of pain. This is not only a resource for women but for anyone in church leadership to understand how to help women in pain.

I received this book from Moody Publishers in exchange for this honest review.  

The Value of Wrinkles by Isabel Tom

Looking at our views on aging and the elderly is the focus of this book.  I could identify with the author who shared her experiences growing up living with her grandparents and later working with the elderly population. I grew up with my grandparents close by and was drawn to working with the elderly early in my nursing career.  We have much to gain by appreciating and taking time to build relationships with our elderly neighbors, family and friends. Slowing down to listen and hear their stories and share in their experiences adds much to our own lives.

The author shared much practical advice in caring for and building relationships with the elderly. She also shares resources that can aid individuals as they try to navigate healthcare and social services for their elderly loved one.

I hope this unique and valuable book will encourage families to include the elderly in their lives and build relationships between generations.     

I received this book from Moody Publishers in exchange for this honest review.

Before You Quit by Doug Gehman

This is a timely book on perseverance. The author deals with various aspects of perseverance including difficulty involving loss, everyday endurance, and perseverance as a lifestyle to name a few. I really appreciated the chapter on moral courage. One of the thoughts included the statement, “When we have a why we can endure almost any how. Survival in suffering is rooted in our ability to find meaning in something beyond ourselves.”  As Christians our courage begins with God, it proceeds forward in obedience and is finished in God’s glory.  Our lives as Christians are rooted in the glory of God. God’s glory can also mean vision, something we see as we connect to God. But it is more than that, it is God’s incomprehensible identity, His rule over all the universe, and His completeness in in Himself.  It is the power of God Himself through Jesus Christ that gives us the courage to persevere.

This is an encouraging book for all Christians as they will encounter various situations in which they will need to persevere. I would highly recommend this book.

I received this book from Moody Publishers in exchange for this honest review.

Keeping the Faith (A Study in Jude) by Lianna Davis

Although the book of Jude is only twenty five verses in length, it is full of knowledge that will increase your understanding of God and encourage you in your Christian faith.  This six week study will take you through the book of Jude and provide you with thoughts of other theologians, pastors, and commentators as well.

The study is composed of lessons to be completed each day for five days of the six week study. Along the way you will learn more about Jude’s warnings and false teachers as well as theological topics such as Gnosticism and antinomianism.   Each day should take about 20 minutes of study which will reward you with greater knowledge of all of these topics previously mentioned.

This is a great resource for an individual study but can also be used in a small group setting.

I received this book from Moody Publishers in exchange for this honest review.